Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Nick Robertson (1 year, $875k)

[Maple Leaf]

What is everyone's opinion as to why it's not working for him this year? Flaws aside, he always found a way to get a few looks. This year, not so much.

Why is that? Just snake bitten? New coach's system? Gripping the stick too tightly?

He not that good

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

What is everyone's opinion as to why it's not working for him this year? Flaws aside, he always found a way to get a few looks. This year, not so much.

Why is that? Just snake bitten? New coach's system? Gripping the stick too tightly?

He scored mostly off the rush in years past and the Leafs under Berube don’t create many rush chances at all. He still should have more than one goal but he’s ridiculously snakebitten.

 

[Stephen]

He scored mostly off the rush in years past and the Leafs under Berube don’t create many rush chances at all. He still should have more than one goal but he’s ridiculously snakebitten.

He was inches away from having a 2 goal night vs the Hockey Club. Give the team for being very publicly supportive of him.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

This guy stinks. Not that the Leafs handled the start of his career well, he's going to need a road paved in gold for a path to being an NHL contributor going forward. Chalk another surefire prospect in the "pipeline" as not being anything in real life. Remember, Dubas is a great drafter that's why he can waste assets on nothing in awful trades.

 

[LeafEgo]

Per the GM,

Winger Nick Robertson has one goal in 17 games this season, which makes you wonder where he fits long-term. But the Leafs GM sees positives in the 23-year-old’s game despite the offensive woes.

“You can say he’s struggling because there’s (no) production — the puck hasn’t gone in — but if his game was exactly the same as it was but a few more pucks had gone in, people would say Nick’s playing well. Nick has taken massive steps in his overall game — his checking game, his play away from the puck.

“What we’re talking to him about is, yeah, we want production, we want everybody to score, but make sure you’ve got a backup game so that if it’s not going in for a period of time, what else are you bringing? You still got to contribute. I’ve been impressed. He works like a dog.” (The Athletic)

I'm not saying he's safe, but if BT is impressed, it may be more than a 'window dressing' comment.

Fair enough but an overly positive take, you can say the same thing about most decent fringe nhl'ers. I doubt Berube loses sleep if he gets turfed.

On second thought, even with a bit of production there are still things about Robo that make you wonder. I think his ceiling now is an ok'ish third liner that brings modest production at times. Maybe not, but we're working on bigger things here.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Guy is so snakebit right now it isn’t even funny.

Hope it goes the other way for him.. maybe he could change the name on his jersey to Nylander so he gets some time on PP1 like Alex and get some more chances.

 

[Evilhomer]

Even when he starts scoring again, and he will, I'm not sure he is a long-term piece on this team.

 

[thewave]

Even when he starts scoring again, and he will, I'm not sure he is a long-term piece on this team.

He is annoying to watch a lot of the time. Bad choices and missed opportunities non stop. Often looking busy and not actually getting anything done.

Strange beast this guy

 

[Apex Predator]

This guy stinks. Not that the Leafs handled the start of his career well, he's going to need a road paved in gold for a path to being an NHL contributor going forward. Chalk another surefire prospect in the "pipeline" as not being anything in real life. Remember, Dubas is a great drafter that's why he can waste assets on nothing in awful trades.

What exactly did the leafs do? Are the leafs responsible for all his injuries? Sometimes the player isn’t good. I know everyone has been wanting him to play top 6 but the guy hasn’t earned it. They gave him games and he still did nothing. When do we finally admit he’s just a guy. He’s not good.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

It's Robertsover.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

Fair enough but an overly positive take, you can say the same thing about most decent fringe nhl'ers. I doubt Berube loses sleep if he gets turfed.

On second thought, even with a bit of production there are still things about Robo that make you wonder. I think his ceiling now is an ok'ish third liner that brings modest production at times. Maybe not, but we're working on bigger things here.

I see a Daniel Sprong type future for him...bouncing around the NHL without every really being useful enough for 1 team to keep.

He is annoying to watch a lot of the time. Bad choices and missed opportunities non stop. Often looking busy and not actually getting anything done.

Strange beast this guy

As the great college coach John Wooden used to say: "Don't mistake activity for achievement"

 

[Stephen]

What exactly did the leafs do? Are the leafs responsible for all his injuries? Sometimes the player isn’t good. I know everyone has been wanting him to play top 6 but the guy hasn’t earned it. They gave him games and he still did nothing. When do we finally admit he’s just a guy. He’s not good.

I would say the Leafs (Dubas/Keefe’s) original sin is they didn’t bring players up at a conventional pace, into the right roles, with the runway to establish themselves. Hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, and toss aside if they didn’t hit it out of the park on the first pitch. Yo-yo’ing guys all the way up from nowhere to the PP1 in the playoffs, and then back down to nowhere again. Did it with Sandin and Robertson. Did it with Knies in the playoffs too, but he’s actually good.

That said. Roberson missed a lot of development time to injury and his hockey sense is just so poor. That’s not a Leafs problem. He’s like all hustle, no work flow. He’s obviously got a big head about where he wants to be in his career and none of it is coming together.

 

[Fogelhund]

I would say the Leafs (Dubas/Keefe’s) original sin is they didn’t bring players up at a conventional pace, into the right roles, with the runway to establish themselves. Hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, and toss aside if they didn’t hit it out of the park on the first pitch. Yo-yo’ing guys all the way up from nowhere to the PP1 in the playoffs, and then back down to nowhere again. Did it with Sandin and Robertson. Did it with Knies in the playoffs too, but he’s actually good.

That said. Roberson missed a lot of development time to injury and his hockey sense is just so poor. That’s not a Leafs problem. He’s like all hustle, no work flow. He’s obviously got a big head about where he wants to be in his career and none of it is coming together.

He's got such a great shot... but the NHL game is fast, and he lacks the ability to get it off quick enough, before being closed down... he rarely creates the space he needs to get it off cleanly, with time. At this time, it's just not there for him. I don't know if he'll ever figure it out, but I think the clock has run out for him here. I like the kid, think he has some talent, and I hope he figures it out elsewhere, but he might end up being a tweener. He's going to put up a lot of points, and goals at an AHL level, he'd be an absolute All Star there.. but the combo of his size, speed, and inability to find open space, might mean it's not going to happen for him in the big league.

Once we get some bodies back, I'd move on from him... maybe as part of a C package.... I'm not saying he's got huge value... but I think there is some potential.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

He's got such a great shot... but the NHL game is fast, and he lacks the ability to get it off quick enough, before being closed down... he rarely creates the space he needs to get it off cleanly, with time. At this time, it's just not there for him. I don't know if he'll ever figure it out, but I think the clock has run out for him here. I like the kid, think he has some talent, and I hope he figures it out elsewhere, but he might end up being a tweener. He's going to put up a lot of points, and goals at an AHL level, he'd be an absolute All Star there.. but the combo of his size, speed, and inability to find open space, might mean it's not going to happen for him in the big league.

Once we get some bodies back, I'd move on from him... maybe as part of a C package.... I'm not saying he's got huge value... but I think there is some potential.

Worst thing about this stretch for all parties involved is just how much his value has cratered because of this stretch. Hard to imagine Robertson is an enticing piece for any team.

 

[Stephen]

Worst thing about this stretch for all parties involved is just how much his value has cratered because of this stretch. Hard to imagine Robertson is an enticing piece for any team.

Maybe he needs to go to San Jose and become a 15-20 goal guy.

 

[Fogelhund]

Worst thing about this stretch for all parties involved is just how much his value has cratered because of this stretch. Hard to imagine Robertson is an enticing piece for any team.

Somehow, teams often look at unrealized potential, and value that. Maybe another team looks at the Leafs and says.. they just have a development problem... this is a PPG AHL player at a young age, who was putting up over 0.5 Goals per game.. at the AHL, albeit small samples. There seems to be a certain arrogance with some teams, that they can make someone better. On the other hand, he's not going to be in big demand, but it wouldn't shock me if a rebuilding team took a shot at his scoring potential, even if the return isn't fabulous. Scoring is the hardest thing to do in the NHL, and he has a scorers mentality... it just hasn't worked yet... I think he'll get moved, I don't think the return will be great... probably a package deal.

 

[genk]

I… actually did not think it was possible for Robertson to have this poor of a start. Legitimately a nightmare scenario. Damn man. So disappointing.

 

[Leafidelity]

Maybe he needs to go to San Jose and become a 15-20 goal guy.

Considering he's pacing for like 5 points over 82 games, that might be asking too much

 

[Larcos_Unal]

I… actually did not think it was possible for Robertson to have this poor of a start. Legitimately a nightmare scenario. Damn man. So disappointing.

Especially after his trade demand, he wanted playing time and he's gotten it. Problem is, he's done next to nothing with it while getting more ice time than he's ever gotten. Pretty amazing way to shit the bed in spectacular fashion.

 

[Skullz]

I've been a fan, but its time for him to come out of the lineup. He just can't create anything out there. I hate to trade a player when his value is low, but I'm not sure how he fits in the lineup anymore.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I saw a Nick Robertson low-light (opposite of highlight) pack last night. He attempted to throw a bodycheck that resembled your grandmother on skates (normally in army boots ). He really didn't know a lot about where to be in the d-zone when there was a break-down. He's become like a fish out of water now. His stock is so low now.

It's a good example to fans when it comes to prospects. Just because you were drafted in the 2nd round, wear blue & white, and your name is Robertson doesn't mean anything.

Huge disappointment, and a very long investment on a player IMHO.

 

[Metroid]

I'm over him after last night. (Not blaming him for the loss, more just how he played)
Ready to eat crow if it happens.

 

[supermann_98]

Honestly would put him on waivers with the intent to send him down and find his game. If another team claims him I'd pull him off waivers and check with that team to see if they have anything useless we could work out a deal with.

How many contracts spots do Pittsburgh have open? I figure Dumbass would claim him and drop him on Crosby's line where he could catch fire just to make Tre look bad

 

[Stringer Bell]

At 875k a bottom feeder would absolutely take a chance on him if he was put on waivers. Would kind of suck to lose him for nothing, but...I suppose whatever at the same time if you're losing nothing for nothing.

 

[SprDaVE]

Honestly would put him on waivers with the intent to send him down and find his game. If another team claims him I'd pull him off waivers and check with that team to see if they have anything useless we could work out a deal with.

How many contracts spots do Pittsburgh have open? I figure Dumbass would claim him and drop him on Crosby's line where he could catch fire just to make Tre look bad

You can't just pull someone off waivers once you put them on.